Palm Springs, CA

With its toasty spring weather, Palm Springs is a great place to escape the cold. Go on a hike through the desert, hit the golf course (if that's your thing), and fit in a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park.

Charleston, SC

To see Charleston in full spring mode, visit the annual Festival of Houses and Gardens. The festival, from late through April, lets visitors explore some of the city's grandest architecture and manicured gardens adorned with azaleas and magnolias.

Asheville, NC

Voted the hottest new travel destination in the US by Lonely Planet, there's never a bad time to visit Asheville, but spring comes with its own benefits. Explore the North Carolina Arboretum, hike along a scenic trail amid the Appalachian Mountains, and amble through the gardens at Biltmore House, where more than 130,000 flowers flourish each spring.

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Austin, TX

Austin is a lively place in the spring, with South by Southwest taking over the city in March. In between SXSW events, enjoy some of the best barbecue in America, and visit the annual Zilker Garden Festival to see a pretty display of seasonal flowers.

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Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix may be known in the baseball world for spring training, but there's plenty of other outdoor activities to do there. Hike along 36 miles of trails at the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, or visit Tonto National Forest to see clusters of flowers among the cacti.

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Philadelphia, PA

In Philly, go to Fairmount Park to see the gorgeous cherry blossoms flanking the Schuylkill River. Or, for an alternative outdoor experience, wander through the Magic Gardens, designed out of discarded tires, tiles, and other ephemera by local artist Isaiah Zagar.

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Savannah, GA

Savannah's warm spring weather makes it an ideal time to visit. Go to Forsyth Park to see its famous fountain and eerie row of oak trees. For a truly gothic vibe, take a tour of Bonaventure Cemetery, where azaleas crop up between the gravestones.

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Albuquerque, NM

Spring in Albuquerque includes a colorful fiesta celebrating the city's history in April, and a wine and jazz festival in May. With sunny, mild weather, it's also a good time to go hiking in the desert, before it gets too hot.

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Portland, OR

When it comes to the best cherry blossoms in Oregon, Salem upstages Portland's display along the Tom McCall waterfront. But Portland has more than just cherry blossoms to offer in the spring. From late May into June, the city hosts an annual rose festival that's over 100 years old.